Anthony Williams, Mayor of Washington D. C., said in Beijing Tuesday that the US capital city is willing to improve economic and trade cooperation with Beijing to further promote US-China relations.

Williams made the remark in a meeting with He Luli, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, in Beijing.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of friendly ties between the Chinese capital and the US capital.

Last May Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan visited Washington D.C. and the two sister cities singed a five-year memorandum of understanding,  promising to further expand cooperation and exchanges.

The Chinese vice-chairwoman said the cooperation between Beijing and Washington D.C. has produced fruitful results over the past years. She hoped the two cities will diversify the cooperation to further consolidate their friendship and help promote China-US relations.

Williams was in China at the invitation of the Beijing Municipal government.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2004)